Arrogant and domineering because of his good looks: His Majesty always pretends to be righteous

Aunt Wang's expression changed, and she helped the steward up, saying, "What's wrong? Tell me slowly, tell me slowly."

The butler was panting, and when he tried to speak, he could only stammer, "Third Young Master... Third Young Master, he..."

Aunt Wang knew something was wrong. "What's wrong? Explain yourself!"

"Let me speak," a voice came from behind the butler. Immediately, everyone around turned around and saw two or three well-dressed men with sorrowful faces walking towards them.

"The Third Young Master... fell off his horse on the way... and has now been carried back to the Wei family to get emergency treatment."

The surrounding crowd gasped in shock; the groom had fallen from his horse.

Aunt Wang was displeased to hear this. Such a thing had happened on such a joyous day. Butler Wei calmed down and went to help Aunt Wang up, saying, "Don't worry, don't worry, it's nothing serious."

"What do you mean it's nothing serious! My daughter is getting married today. How can she get married if your third young master falls off his horse?!"

Butler Wei patted Aunt Wang on the shoulder and said, "We are very sorry that this happened. The Third Young Master is still in critical condition, so we can only have his cousin take him back in his place."

Aunt Wang immediately shook off Steward Wei's hand. "A substitute marriage? I don't agree! Who's going to marry my daughter?! Don't let them marry her and then back out!"

"Oh dear, don't be so rigid. We're all family. Third Young Master, this is bad. It wouldn't be good if we missed the auspicious time." Steward Wei comforted him, and then Uncle Wang ran out from the inner room.

"What happened?"

"My lord, the third young master has fallen from his horse! This group of people wants to find someone to marry your daughter in his place!" Aunt Wang cried to Uncle Wang.

Unexpectedly, Uncle Wang avoided eye contact and, instead of helping her, advised her, "Well... a substitute marriage is fine, our daughter will still be the Third Young Master's wife after the marriage..."

"Fine, you won't take my side, and you even..."

The group argued but didn't notice that the matchmaker had a strange expression and quietly went to pull the bride away. Standing in the crowd, Madam Lin vaguely felt that something was wrong. She nudged Xia Rongliu with her elbow and gave her a wink.

Xia Rongliu received her mother's signal and looked over to see the matchmaker taking the bride away. Her face tightened, and she ran over crying to hug Wang Jiaying, "Sister Jiaying, I can't bear to part with you... Ahhhhh..."

The matchmaker was startled and grabbed Xia Rongliu, yelling, "Where did this wild girl come from! Get away from me!"

Xia Rongliu wouldn't let go. "Sister Jiaying, please don't marry him, okay?" she said, deliberately raising her voice.

Hearing the crying, Aunt Wang turned around and saw Xia Rongliu holding her daughter tightly, while a matchmaker tried to silence Xia Rongliu by pulling on Wang Jiaying.

Aunt Wang was furious. She pushed aside Uncle Wang and Butler Wei and stormed over to block the matchmaker, shouting, "What do you think you're doing? You want to secretly take my daughter away?!"

The matchmaker smiled awkwardly, "No, no, it's just that if the bride doesn't leave soon, she'll be late for her wedding."

"Why are you leaving? I, as your mother, haven't agreed yet! Of all times, your third young master had to have an accident on his wedding day. If I marry my daughter off to him and he dies, will my daughter be left to live as a widow?!" Aunt Wang was furious, her finger almost poking the matchmaker's nose.

"No, no, I don't want Sister Jiaying to leave, Sister Jiaying, please don't go." Xia Rongliu tried to pull Wang Jiaying to the side, but unexpectedly Wang Jiaying suddenly reached out and pulled her away. Xia Rongliu almost lost her balance and fell to the ground, but fortunately, Lin Shi caught her.

"Never mind that, I'll marry him!" Wang Jiaying said firmly, and immediately, the surroundings fell silent.

Aunt Wang was dumbfounded, standing there staring at her daughter in disbelief. "Daughter, have you thought this through? If something happens to the Third Young Master, you'll be wronged."

Xia Rongliu wanted to go forward, but Lin Shi, dissatisfied with the fact that her daughter had just been pushed and hugged, stopped her from going.

Wang Jiaying continued, "Mother, I'm not wronged. I'm willing to marry into the family to take care of the Third Young Master."

The matchmaker chuckled, "Look, your own daughter has said she's willing, so don't stop her. Let's get going." With that, the matchmaker pulled Wang Jiaying away.

"Jiaying... Jiaying!" Aunt Wang called out her daughter's name, hoping she would change her mind but not knowing how to persuade her. Uncle Wang pulled her back, and Aunt Wang turned and smacked Uncle Wang, "It's all your fault, all your fault! Why didn't you help me stop her..."

Uncle Wang, his eyes filled with sorrow, embraced Aunt Wang, watching Wang Jiaying's retreating figure in silence.

Afterwards, all the guests went home.

Xia Zhishu returned home and sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), but still felt uncomfortable no matter how he moved. He got up and walked around for a while. After a while, he walked up to Lin Shi and said seriously, "No, I have to go to the Wei family in person tomorrow."

Lin was already impatient with him leaving, and when he said he was going to visit the Wei family, she became even more impatient. "What? You want to join in the fun too?"

Xia Zhishu waved her hand, "Of course not. Don't you think there's something strange about Aunt Wang's family today?"

Lin sneered, "Heh, you're only just realizing something's wrong?"

"You knew all along!?"

Lin kicked Xia Zhishu and said with a smile, "Keep your voice down. Just wait and see what happens tomorrow."

……

The next day

Sure enough, just as Lin had said, before Xia Zhishu even went to the Wei family, Granny Wang came to their house crying and complaining.

"Oh dear—Grandma Xia, open the door! Ahhhhhh—" Aunt Wang's cries grew louder and louder. When Grandma Xia heard the noise and opened the door, she saw Aunt Wang crying her eyes out and throwing herself at her.

Old Mrs. Xia, not knowing what was going on, comforted Aunt Wang somewhat helplessly, "What's wrong? What happened? Come in quickly, come in and tell me." After saying that, she pulled Aunt Wang into the inner room.

Aunt Wang sat in the chair and said angrily, "Those damned bastards actually lied to me, waaaaah—" Aunt Wang cried so hard that she could hardly breathe, clearly furious.

"What kind of Wei family's third young master is he? He even fell off his horse and died! I curse his ancestors for eighteen generations!"

Old Lady Xia was deeply shocked and couldn't help but ask again, "You mean the third young master of the Wei family died after falling from his horse?"

To everyone's surprise, Aunt Wang reacted even more strongly: "He is dead, but not from falling off a horse. That third young master already had tuberculosis, and he married my daughter to bring good luck. Who knew he would die the day after the wedding, which is why he didn't come to fetch the bride."

So Wang Jiaying became a widow in name only, which shocked Xia Laoniang even more.

"Tell me, what am I going to do about my daughter..." Aunt Wang cried, shaking Old Lady Xia. Old Lady Xia continued to comfort Aunt Wang until she calmed down before asking.

"How come I never heard that this third young master has tuberculosis before? You... you should find out more about it."

"It's my fault, it's my fault! How was I supposed to know he had tuberculosis? And the dowry he gave was so generous. I... I didn't think much of it..." Aunt Wang couldn't continue, and sobbed softly.

Old Lady Xia didn't know how to comfort Aunt Wang. What was supposed to be a joyous occasion had turned into a joke. The groom had passed away the day after the wedding. Who wouldn't be angry and sad in this situation?